The effects of popular songs on vocabulary acquisition in EFL classes : an analysis of the impact of learners’ musical preferences

(eng) Apart from being entertaining, popular songs are nowadays increasingly being used as teaching materials in classrooms. In recent years, the question has been raised whether foreign language acquisition could be influenced by the use of songs, as they are authentic materials in the target language. Considering the fact that learning a language is a long and difficult process, motivating and effective methods that would foster acquisition are constantly being searched for. This thesis focuses on a specific aspect of language acquisition, namely vocabulary, and examines the effects of popular songs on vocabulary acquisition when they introduce vocabulary items, while researching the impact of learners’ musical preferences on these methods as well. This is achieved by comparing two main groups of learners of English as a foreign language in Belgium. Whereas vocabulary items are presented through songs in which they appear in the first (experimental) group, the exact same items are found in written articles in the second (control) one. Data collection includes the completion of a pre-test, an immediate post-test after each lesson, a delayed post-test four weeks after the end of the lessons and a questionnaire on musical tastes filled in by the subjects in the music group. It appears in this study that music is an effective teaching material, although it does not bring significantly better results than classical methods such as written texts. In addition, no evident relationship was found between vocabulary proficiency and musical preferences. Interestingly, learners’ willingness to participate was higher in the group instructed through music and their attitudes towards the lessons seemed more positive than in the second (control) group at all times. This means that music, while not being a more effective teaching material than classical materials such as written texts, can and should be included in language classes because it creates ideal conditions for effective teaching and learning.